Golf ball marking apparatus



Aug. 8, 1933- c. E. BROMAN ET AL GOLF BALL MARKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Char/e5 1f. Era/wan Wg/fer H. /V0wa/f a 95%? ATTORNEYS Hill I Aug. 8, 1933. Q BRQMAN ET AL 1,921,307

GOLF BALL MARKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. {5. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1933- c. E. BROMAN El AL ,92

GOLF BALL MARKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 u I, k /K I 2%; I a r 7; E 1 I I i I I INVENTOR Char/es t. Broman war/far l1. Non 0k g- 1933; c. E. BROMAN ET AL 1,921,307

GOLF BALL MARKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1951 6 Shee ts-Sheet 5 W N A V w I 1 5 v 37 4 4 DINVENTOR 1933-v c. E. BROMAN ET AL 1,921,

GOLF BALL MARKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY! Patented Aug. 8, 1933 rsio STATES- GOLF BALL MARKING, APPARATUS Charles E. -Broman, Sparta, .andfWalter H. I I I Nowak, Grand Rapids, Mich, q r

- Application September 3, 1931. Serial N;56i),974

28 Claims,

The objects of this invention are: First, to p'rovid'e a machine for marking golf balls and the like which ,'may be; quickly set up for the desired nameor mark and quickly and easily operated.

7 Second, to provide a machine having 1 these advantages'which is or large capacity, that is, capable of rapid operation.

Third, to provide a machine for marking golf Sixth, to provide a machine of this type which is economical to manufacture, simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Seventh, to provide in a machineof this type means whereby the machine automatically ad justs itself to the size of the ball whereby to make uniform indentations on the surface there- Eighth, to provide a machine of this type which is effective for marking both hard and soft balls without special adjustment.

Ninth, to provied means for inking in a machine of this type whereby-the ink is sunk into the surface of the ball by the printing operation.

Tenth, to provide means in a machine of this type for preventing the retraction of the work carriage until the forward movement thereof has been completed.

Eleventh, to provide means for permitting the authorized operation of the handle.

Twelfth, to provide means for preventing inking the type before each operation of.

machine. r

Fourteenth, to provide means for locking the type during the printing operation.

Fifteenth, to provide means for pressing the ball onto the work carriageupon the initial movement thereof.

handle to be freely actuated when the machine. is not set for o eration whereby to obviatedam age to the handlc'an'd/or to the machine by un;

Sixteenth, to provide means for automatically.

j elevating the work carriageduring a portion of its cycl'eof operation whereby the ball is pressed firmly and uniformly into engagement with the line of type. .Objectsrelating to details and economies of our invention will appear from the description to follow. Theinve'nti'on' i's-defind' and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is 'a preferred embodiment of our invention is illustratedin' the accompany ing drawings, in which? Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a golf ball marking machine embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation'of the machine having parts thereof broken away.

Fig. 3 is afragm'entary' vertical section on line 3 3' of Figs. {1 and 5.' y

Fig. 4 is a transverse section Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6. r

Fig. 5 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section on line 55 of Figs. 2, 3', 4, 6 and '7.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially in end elevation of the left hand side of the achine;

Fig. is alfragmentaryview partially in' section'and partially in elevation'of the type inkingmechanism, parts beingisho'wn in one position by full lines and in another position by dotted lines.

Fig. 8 isaview similar to" Fig. '7 of the type inking .-mechanism at the" :end of the carriage movement.

e lined-4' 01 Fig. 9Yis fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially'in section of the handle or operating lever connecting mechanism ready for operation.

Fig. 10 is a'view similar to Fig.9 of the handle connecting mechanism, at the end of its stroke. Fig. '11 is a fragmentary top plan viewof theindicia members, and i I Fig. 12 is a fragmentary View partially in elevation and partially in transversesection of r the track'carriage assembly.

v The embodiment illustrated fin the accompanying drawings comprises base 1 having mounted therein ahousing' 2 in which the operating mechanism is enclosed; This housing is provided with an opening ii to receive the balls to be'marked anda discharge opening 4.

The base 1 is provided with "a horizontal flange 5 having a concave run in the upper sure face thereof for supporting'the balls after they have been marked by the machine; The exit the balis in the run after they have been discharged from the machine.

Mounted in spaced relation within the hous ing a pair of plate-like brackets or frame members 7 constituting supports for the Various parts of the mechanism. These frame members "1' carry the spindle 8 of the indicia disks 9.

The indicia disks are disposed side by side for independent rotative adjustment, each dist; hav ing a gear wheel 10 connected thereto which meshes with a ge wheel 11 connected to each of the character disks 12. The character disks 12 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 13 which is supported by the frame members 7. The indicia disks are provided with adjustment indicating character segments l i conta'ning the same'characters as the character disks 12.

The housing is provided with openings 15 in the front thereof through which the finger pieces 16 of the indicia disks 9 project. These linger pieces are bent or conformed so that their outer ends lie in uniformly spaced relation for convenience in manipulation.

The housing is also provided with a window 17 through which the indicia characters are visible so that the operator may determine by inspection through this Window when the disks are brought into proper printing position for the. desired name and the set-up inspected bei ore the printing operation.

indicia disks, we arrange a set of characters 18 aiong one edge of the openings 15 as shown in Fig. 1 so that the positions of the disks may be determined by aligning the finger pieces with these characters. This arrangement enables the very rapid adjustment of the indicia disks and checking to determine whether or not the been properly adjusted for the particular *ries of marks desired.'

To ciear ne machine or return the indicia disks to their normal or initial position, We provide a yoke-like member 19, the arms of which are pivotally mounted on thespindle Eat the outside oi the outer disks with the cross piecev thereof lying adjacent the peripheries of the disks so that when the clearing member is swung upwardly it engages the finger pieces and returns them to their initial position. The clearing member is provided with a finger piece 20 to facilitate its operation. V7

The disks are yieldingly held in their adjusted position by a series of holding-pawls 21 which are mounted on a rod 22 extending between the supporting brackets 7. Each the pawls is providedwith a roller sScQac-ting with the serrations 24' on the indicia disks 9. The pawls are urged into engaging position with the serrations 2 by tension springs 25 which carried by a cross piece 26 between the bracket members 7.

The halls are carriedinto operative relation to the character disks with a rolling movement by means of a carriage 2'7 which reciprocates or travels in a plane parallel to the axis of the character disks. The carriage comprises a pair of side members 29 having inwardly projecting flanges 30 connected by a cross bar 31, the side members and bar constituting the frame of the carriage. v

The rollers 28 are journaled to the side bers of the carriageframe, the journals engaging longitudinal spaced way members or tracks 32 which constitute-upwardly projecting flanges iianges i5 To further facilitate the adjustment or" the on the channel-shaped track member 33. The rollers are spool-shaped and spaced so as to form fitting rolling supports for a golf ball shown at 34.. The journals of the rolls being in bearing engagement with the tracks 32, the roll.-

thereby rolling the ball and supporting it in rolling engagement with the line of properly positioned type on the character members.

Referring particularly to Fig. 12, the channelshaped track member 33 is provided with open- 35 in the ends thereof through which headed studs 36 pass which are mounted on the base 1. The connection. between the studs and the track member is such that the track member is free to be elevated and lowered by means of a channel--shaped slide 37 having wedge-shaped flanges 83 which engage the bottom of the track. member 33. The slide 3'7 slidably mounted within a channel supporting member 39 having outwardly extending flanges 40 which are provided with holes 41 for the accommodation of beaded studs 42 mounted in openings 43 provided therefor in the base 1 in alignment with the openings 41.

The base 1 is provided with a longitudinal recess for the accommodation of the supporting member 39, the connection between the headed studs 42 and the outwardly extending such that. the supporting inem her is free to move vertically relative to the 1. Compression spr'ngs 45 are disposed on the studs 42 ween the flanges 45 and the upper sur e oi for resiliently urging the suppoi ting member upwardly. The springs 45 are adapted to provide, a uniform pressure urging the ball 34 with the line of type set up by the character disks 1 2.

slide 3! is reciprocated so as to elevate the track member 33 relative to the supporting member 39 by means of the lever is which is pivoted at 4'7 and is connected tothe pin 43 carried by the slide 37see Figs. 3 and i. The other end of the lever 48 provided with pin 49 which extends through a slot 50 provided in the lower portion of an arm 51 which is carried by the sleeve 52 on the operating shaft 53.

The sleeve 52 is rotatably mounted on the...

the lever 46 and moves the slide 3'? longitudi- 1 nally with respect to the supporting member The arrangement is 39 and the track member 53 thereby changing V The arm 51 is free to'rotate on the sleeve 52 so that when the arm 51 has moved the slide 3'? to an extreme position, the, lever 55 which is pivoted to the arm 51 at'56 and connected at one end thereto by a tension spring 57 is actuated by the cam pin 58 coacting with the cam arm 59 oi the lever 55. Fig. "I shows the relative positions of the parts before the arm 51 has been rocked and Fig. 8 shows the relative positions of the parts after the arm-has been moved so as to actuate the slide 37 to an extreme position. The cam pin 58 depresses the arm 55 thereby rocking the lever 55 so as to extend the spring 5'? which tends to hold the arm 51 and the slide 37 in their, extreme positions while the 'rest .of the .mechanism is beingcmovediorward. r

The type linking mechanism .comprising an inking roller 60 carried by a yoke-like member 61 which is pivoted to the supporting members 7 at 62. The member 61 is free to swing about the' p'ivots 62 so as to bring the inking roller 60 into contact with the positioned line of type 63 formed by the character disks '12 and out ofthe path of the carriage 27. The tension spring 64 connected at one end to the supporting member 7 and at the other endto thememher 61 urges the member 61 so as to swing the inking roller into contact with the line of type by the detent 66 to hold the inking roll in its retracted position. A tension spring '69 is connected at one end to the arm 68 and at the other end to the detent 66 for urging the arm downwardly into engagement with the upper cam surface 70 of the carrier 61 and for urging the detent 66 into engagement with the shoulder "65. The'detent 66 is rocked out of engagement with the keeper 65 by'a finger 71 pivoted to the arm 72 at 73. v

A tension spring 74 connects one side of the pivoted finger 71 to the arm 72 so as to maintain the finger 71 in proper position for engagement with the tappet pin 75 carried by the detent 66.

The arm '72 is fixed to the inner end of the sleeve .52 so that as the sleeve 52 is rotated the arm 72 carries the finger 71 into engagement with the tappet pin 75 which releases the detent. Thereupon, the spring 66 swings the inking roller into sharp contact with the line of type 63. Thereafter, as the arm 72 is further "advanced, the arm' 68 which is pivoted thereto at 76 coacts with the cam surface 70 of the'inking roll carrier and moves it into its retracted position where it is engaged by the detent. In this position the inking roller is out of the path of the carriage 27.

The carriage 27 is reciprocated by means of the lever 77 which is pivoted at 78 and connected to the cross member of the carriage by means of the link 79. The lever extends over the track member 33.

-When the carriage is in its initial position it is adapted to receive the ball 34 introduced through the opening 3 as shown by Fig. 6. When the carriage reaches the end of its forward stroke the ball is automatically ejected through .theopening 4 by means of the ejector 80 which is pivoted at 81 on the carriage and provided with a cross piece 82 which extends transversely of the carriage above the tracks and at the rear of the ball. As the carriage approaches the end of its stroke, the carriage engages ,the arm 83 of the lever 84 which is pivoted at 85 and swings the arm 86 of the lever 84 intoengagement with the pin 87 carried by the ejector 80; The continued forward movement of the carriage causes the arm 86 to swing the ejector '80 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.5 thereby ejecting the ball through .the opening 4. The pin 88 mounted on the carriage27 limits the forward movement of the which is urged to one of its limits by means of aigravity extension or weight 93. The .arm .92 .is aprovidedjwith .a lug :94 which engages a :lug '95 provided *on the 'bell crank lever 96 pivoted to'the-sector .54 :at 97.

The operating' .handle 90 is fixed to the op- -'erating shaft 53 and is provided with a sector :98 secured thereto. The sector 98 isprovided withra lug.99 which is adapted .to be engaged by one end of the bell cranklever 96 so that when *the :rockshaft 391 is turned so- .as to rotate ,the Weight 93 upwardly the lug 94 disengages from :the lug 95 and permitsthe :bell crank :lever to be rotated by gravity intoengagement with the "lug 99 of the sector 98. When engaged in this manner, the operation of the operating handle 90'rotates the sector'54and operates the mechanism described above. When the handle .90 is returned to its initial position, the bell crank lever 96 is engaged by the rockshaft "arm 92 and swung out of engagement with the lug 99 thereby "disconnecting the operating handle :from .the mechanism of the machine. The operating handle 90 :is thereupon left .free "to be rotated without connection to the machine.

'The operating handle '90 is urged to its in- ;itial .orretracted position'by a tension spring 100 which ?is connected atone end to the bracket 101 and at the other end to a lever 102 pivoted to the brackets 101 at 103. The :lever 102 "is providedwith acam arm 104 which is-engaged by the lcamiroller 105 rotatably-carried by the 'sector 98 at 106. Whenthe sector 98 is rotated by the :operating 'handle'90, the cam roller 105 co- .acts with the cam arm 104 and swings the lever 102 about its pivot 103 thereby stretching the .spring .100 which urges the mechanism including the operating .roller back :to its initial or retracted position.

The periphery of the sector 54 is provided with :notches .107 which are adapted to be engaged by a detent 108 which :is pivoted to the bracket 101 at 109 and is held :in engaging position by .a'tension spring 110 which is connected to' the bracket 101. As the sector 54 is turned by the operating handle the detent .108 engages its.

periphery and'if for any reason the operating handle shouldbe stopped and attempted to 'be retracted, the detent 108 engages one of the notches 107 and locks the sector against retraction. moved forward by the operatinghandle until ,the stroke has been completed. Upon comple- The mechanism, however, is free to be mg the mechanism.

nism to its initial position by the retraction of the operating handle 90.

The operating handle is mounted on the extreme end of the shaft 53 whichprojects plained in detail below.

The rockshaft 91 mentioned above is opera- "tively connected to a coinactuated member 115' which is pivoted at 116 to lie vertically within the coin chute 117, it being held slightly 01f the perpendicular by its engagement with a dog 118,

which is connected to the rockshaft. When a coin drops into the chute 117, the weight of the coin is suflicient to swing the member115' on its pivot thereby actuating the dog 118 and through it, turning the rockshaft sufficiently to disengage the bell crank lever 96 as described above.

At the upper end of the chute 117, there is provided a'coin deflector 119 pivoted at 120 and carrying the weight 121 at its outer end. The coin deflector normally lies below the slot 122 through which the coin is introduced for operat- If a nickelbe introduced which is the coin for which the. particular machine is designed, it drops upon the head 123 of the coin deflector, the weight being suiiicient to swing the deflector on its pivot and deliver the coin to the chute 117. In the event of a slug such as 124 being introduced having a hole therein, the slug will engage the head 123 and is held thereby until the head swings past the mouth of the chute so that the slug is discharged into the slug chute 125, as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 6.

Means are provided for locking the character disks 12 upon the initial movement of the opcrating handle 90which preferably comprises a gravity operated pawl 126 which is pivoted at 127 so as to be rotated by gravity when disengaged into the slots 128 between the character projections 129 on the periphery of the character disks. The character disks 12 constitute in effect racks, the rotation of which is absolutely locked by the pawl 126 when it is actuated by a lever 130 pivoted at 131.

One end of the lever 130 is provided with a shoulder'132 for engaging the pawl 126 and a rearwardly extending arm .133 which is connected to the arm 134 secured to the shaft 53 by screws 135 and through a spring 136. Upon the rotation of the shaft 53 the arms 134 extend the tension spring 136 so as to rotate the lever 130 into engagement with the pawl 126 which is thereby moved into locking engagement with the slots 128' of the character disks.

The continued forward movement of the shaft 53 is permitted by the tension springs 136 which resiliently urge the pawl 126 in its engaged position with the character disks. The character disks are thereby locked against rotation after the mechanism is set in operation and during the entire cycle of operation until the operating handle has been returned to its initial position. r

Means are also provided for depressing the ball 34 into firm engagement with the rollers of the carriage at the beginning of its movement which preferably comprises a lever 13-7 pivoted to the supporting bracket at 138 and held'in a retracted position by a tension spring 139.

The forwardlyextending arm of the lever 13'? is provided with a slot 140 which is engaged by a:;

pin 141 carried by the supporting bracket I. The lever 13'? is actuated by an arm 142 secured to the operating shaft 53 by a screw 143. The arm 142 is provided with a pin 144 which engages the cam surface 145 provided in the upper edge of the lever 13?. As the shaft is rotated it carries with it the arm 142 which causes the pin 144 to ride over the cam surface 145 and depresses the outer arm of the lever 13? against the force of the tension spring 139.

Thelever 137 is provided with a plate 146 which is adapted to engage the top of the ball 34 and press it into firm engagement with the rollers of the carriage so that when the carriage is actuated, the ball is positively rolled into lasting indeiible print in the surface of the golf ball results. 7

The resilient mounting of the carriage provides a uniform pressure between the golf ball and the line of type irrespective or regardless of the size of the golf ball.

The machine can only be operated after the proper coin has been inserted in the slot 122.'

Qnce the operation of the machine has been started, it cannot be retracted to an initial posi tion until the operating cycle has been entirely completed. When not in operation, the handle is free to be rotated thereby obviating possible injury. to the machine by the unauthorized and the previous size, and'of different degrees of softness. A uniform imprint results, notwithstanding such variations.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of our invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims. 7

Having thus described our invention, what we claim new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing mechanism, of an operating handle therefor and means for connecting said handle to said mechanism comprising a rockshaft, an arm carried by said rockshaft, a spring urging said handle to an initial position,v a sector connected to said handle, a sector connected to said mechanism, said handle sector having a latch. securing recess, and a latch pivoted. to said mechanism sector gravitally urged into engagement with said recess and having 2, lug engageable by said arm when said mechanism sector is in an initial position, said latch: being. held out of engagement with said handle. sector recess when so engaged, whereby said. handle and sector are free to turn, but upon the; rocking of. said rockshaft said. arm. releasing said latch; which is moved by gravity into ongagement with said recess whereby the mech. anism is. connected. to'the handle through said latch andsectors.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination; with. a printing mechanism, of means. for operating said mechanism comprising a handle and means for connecting said handle to said mechanism comprising adjacent sectorial members carried byxthe handle and mechanism respectively, a connecting f member for said sectorial members, means urging said connecting members in non-ccnnecting positon,-

and meansfor actuating said connecting member to connecting position.

3. In a machine. of "the class described, the combination with a printing, mechanism, of means for operating said mechanism comprising a handleandi means for connecting said handleto. said mechanism. comprising adjacent sectorial members carried by the handle and mechanism respectively, a connecting member for saidsectorial members, means urging said connecting members in non-connecting position, andmeans forractuating. said connecting member to connection position, said connecting member being automatically returned toa non-connecting. position after the completion of a. single cycle of operation of said handle; 7

4;.Inwa machine. of, the. class described, the. combination with a ball-carrying: carriage, of meansfor actuating said carriage including .an operating handle, and means for pressing the-ball into firm engagement With said carriage comprising 2;: plate pivotally mounted at the entrance end of said: machine above said. carriage for engagement with the top. of the ball, said plate. having. a. cam and an arm operated by said handle coacting with said cam whereby said plate is depressed. upon the operation .of. said.

handle, 5.. In. a machine. of: the class: described, the

combination with a plurality of indicia members mounted. for independent adjustment, each of saidr'members having. peripheralv notches and a plurality of: marking characters, of means for locking said members against movement after adjustment comprising a pivotally mounted dog engageable with said members at said. notches combination with a plurality of type disks and means; tor. setting said disks, of means for inking selected type on said disks; comprising an inking pad mounted for oscillating movement line of type, one of said members having. a'

detent engaging recess therein and a cam. surface, detent engageable with said recess for holding said member in retracted position, a spring urging said pad into type inking position, means for releasing said detent, and means for retracting said pad including an arm engageable with said cam surface.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a ball carrying carriage, and a line of type above said carriage, of means for inking said type prior to the engagement of said type Withthe ball comprising an inking pad mounted for oscillating movement into contact with said type, resilient means urging said pad into contact with said type, means holding said pad in retracted position, means foractuating said carriage, means actuated thereby for releasing said holding means, whereupon said resilient means swings said pad into contact with said type, and means for retracting said pad upon the continued actuation of said carriage back into engagement with said holding means.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base having a longitudinal. recess therein, of a channel support disposed in saidrecess having outwardly extending flanges overhanging saidbase, headed studs mounted on said base-and extending through openings provided therefor in said flanges, whereby said channel support is free to move vertically between said base and the heads ofsaid studs, compressing springs disposed on said studs between said flanges and' said base for resiliently urging said channel support to its upper limit, a channel-shaped slide slidably carried by said channelhaving wedge-shaped flanges, a channelshaped track member having flanges constituting spaced tracks disposed on said wedge-shaped flanges of said slide, a carriage carried by said tracks, said track member having openings therein, headed studs mounted on said base loosely-(extending through said openings, whereby said track member is free to be raised and loweredby said slide, -means for reciprocating said carriage on said member, and means for actuating said slide, whereby said track m'ember is elevated at the beginning of the forward movement of the carriage and lowered at the 7 end of the reverse movement thereof.

10. In a machine of the class described, a base, a supporting member resiliently mounted on said base,'a. Wedge-shaped slide carried by said supporting member, a track memberv mounted 1on'said. base above said slide for vertical movement under the influence of said slide, a carriage tracking on said track member, and means for reciprocating said carriage and actuating said slide, wherebyto change the eleva tion of said carriage.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base, of a channel-like trackmember carried by said base, a carriage coacting with said track member, and means for yieldingly supporting said track member on said base, whereby a substantially uniform upward pressure is transferred to said carriage.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a work carriage, of a rigid track therefor, and supporting means for said track including springs which cause said track to exert a substantially uniform pressure, whereby said carriage is capable of uniformly supporting balls having different characteristics.

13. In a machine or" the class described, the combination'with a base, and means mounted thereon for selecting a line of type, of means for rolling a ball on said line of type comprising a resiliently mounted carriage support, a carriage coacting with said support, means for changing the elevation of said carriage on said support, and means for actuating said carriage.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to marking means, a resiliently mounted support for said wa a tapered adjusting member disposed between said way and its support, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supporting rollers in engagement with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage the work is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means, means for reciprocating said carriage operatively connected to said adjusting member, and means operatively associated with said operating means for pressing the work upon the rollers during the initial movement of the carriage and prior to engagement of the work with the marking means.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to marking means, a resiliently mounted support for said way, a tapered adjusting member disposed between said way and its support, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supporting rollers in engagement with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage the work is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means, and means for reciprocating said carriage operatively connected to said adjusting member.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to said marking means, a resiliently mounted support for said way, .a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supporting rollers in engagement with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage the work is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means, means for, reciprocating said carriage, and means operatively associated with said operating means for pressing the work upon the rollers during the initial movement of the carriage and prior to engagement of the work with the marking means.

17. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to said marking means, a resiliently mounted rigid support for said way, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supporting rollers in engagement with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage the work is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means,

and means for reciprocating said carriage.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to said marking means, an adjusting member for said way, a

carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supporting rollers in engagement with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage the work is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means, means for reciprocating said carriage operatively connected to said adjusting member, and means operatively associated with said operating means for pressing the work upon the rollers during the initial movement of the carriage and prior to engagement of the Work with the indicia members. :7

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination of marking means, a way disposed in opposed spaced relation to said marking means, an adjusting member for said way, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and having work supportingrollers in engage-.

ment with the way whereby upon reciprocation of the carriage thework is carried into rotative engagement with the marking means, and means for reciprocating said carriage operatively connected to said adjusting member. 7 20. In a machine of the class described; th

combination of a marking unit, a way disposed in opposed relation to said marking unit and supported for movement to and from said marking unit, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and provided with spaced driven roll-1 ers constituting means for rotatably supporting and rotating a ball as the carriage travels along the way, actuating means for said carriage, means operatively connected thereto for moving said way toward said marking unit, and means actuated by said carriage reciprocating means for pressing a-ball upon its said supporting rollers prior to the engagement thereof with said marking unit. 1

21. In a machine of the class described; the combination of a marking unit, a way disposed in opposed relation to said marking unit, and. supported for movement to and from said marking unit, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way, actuating means for said carriage,

means operatively connected thereto for moving said way toward said marking unit, and means actuated bysaid carriage reciprocating means for pressing a ball upon its said carriage prior to the engagement thereof with said marking unit. l

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a marking unit, a way disposed in opposed relation to said marking unit and supported for movement to and from said marking unit, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way, and provided with spaced driven rollers constituting means for rotatably supporting and rotating a ball as the carriage travels along the way actuating means for said carriage and means operatively connected thereto for moving said way toward said marking unit.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a marking unit, a rigid way disposed in opposed relation to said marking unit and supported for movement to and from said marking unit, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted. on said way, actuating means for said carriage, and a means operatively connected thereto for moving said way toward said marking unit.

uated by said carriage reciprocating means for pressing a ball upon its said supporting rollers prior to the engagement thereof with said marking unit.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a marking unit, a way disposed in opposed relation to said marking unit,, a carriage reciprocatingly mounted on said way and provided with means for rotatably supporting and rotating a ball as the carriage travels along the actuating means for said carriage and means actuated by said carriage reciprocating means for pressing a ball upon its said carriage prior to the engagement thereof with said marking. unit.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a yieldingly supported way, a

carriage provided with spaced concave driven rollers constituting means for supporting and rotating the ball as the carriage travels along the Way, and a plurality of character units each provided with a plurality of characters mounted for independent adjustment whereby selected characters may be brought into parallel relation .to said way.

27. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of marking unit, a yielding'ly'supthe Way. a

. 2 8. In a machine of the class described,'the

combination of a marking unit, an adjustably 

